'The right amount of robot': This updated Roomba is at its lowest price ever

Say goodbye to the days of your robovac careening all over the house like it has discovered your liquor cabinet — the new Roomba Vac Essential cleans in neat rows thanks to Smart Navigation features. Think more precision, less bumper cars. Right now, it's available for a major discount. If you're tired of vacuuming up grass clippings, beach sand and all the other goodies that make it into your home during summer, let this bot handle the job for you.

• Related: The best robot vacuums to keep your house clean in 2024

Amazon

iRobot Roomba Vac Essential Robot Vacuum

$225$250Save $25

You'll get up to two hours of cleaning on a single charge. That's more than enough for all but the messiest of floors, but don't worry — if it isn't done when the charge runs out, this little robovac will pick up where it left off after some rest. 

$225 at Amazon

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$250 at Lowe's

Why is this a good deal? 💰

We love any deal on gadgets that save us time, but it helps that this is the lowest price ever for this Roomba. It's still new, so a discount like this one is unexpected — and unlikely to be beaten until Black Friday.

Why do I need this? 🤔

We could all use more time in our days, right? The Roomba Vac Essential handles tedious vacuuming so you can do more of what you really want to do: Sit back with your feet up.

Seriously, though: it has a three-stage cleaning system that is effective at picking up debris on nearly any surface. It starts with a spinning, edge-sweeping brush that pulls in dirt from around the robovac, while the V-shaped brush in the center agitates stuck-on dirt on hardwood and loosens dust in carpets.

We touched on this a bit earlier, but it also cleans in neat rows: up, over, down, repeat. It has sensors to avoid running into furniture or tumbling down the stairs too. The newer design also lets it fit under furniture that previous robovacs couldn't reach, and the edge-sweeping brush lets it get alongside tight spots, like the edge of a wall or the bed.

The downside, of course, is that there's no self-emptying base, but it can hold a substantial amount of dirt before you need to intervene. You can also tell it to target specific areas, and it can spot clean individual locations for up to two minutes at a time.

When it finishes cleaning, the robovac will go back to the dock on its own. It also returns if its battery runs low, but will resume the job once it charges.

What reviewers say 💬

More than 19,000 reviewers say their floors are less grimy, thanks to their new robotic sidekick.

Pros 👍

According to some fans, just owning a Roomba makes your home a bit tidier. "Our floors are much cleaner now that we run this machine every few days," said one buyer who declared this robovac "the right amount of robot." They continued: "Because we have it, we are mindful of cords, cat toys and other items on the floor that could tangle it up, so its presence also kind of enforces a level of tidiness."

Other reviewers spoke at length about how efficient the Roomba is. "I don't have to hurt my back anymore bending down. It's worth it," said a second fan. "My floors are clean and I don't have to work or lift a finger."

As far as basics go, this little robot has things covered, another buyer says. "I was shocked at how much dust/debris it picked up in a room I thought was clean."

Cons 👎

As you might expect from a vacuum, it's not exactly quiet. "It's a little loud, but cleans well," one shopper said — a downside that was echoed by multiple reviewers.

And if there's another major con, it's the maintenance this machine requires. "The only downside is that you will have to clean out Roomba about once a month depending on how often you use it. It is important to take some of the parts off and clean them and clean her sensors off. I clean her about once a month after running her about three times a week."

Amazon

iRobot Roomba Vac Essential Robot Vacuum

$225$250Save $25

Choose between three levels of suction, depending on whether you need a quick pickup or a more thorough, in-depth clean. 

$225 at Amazon

Explore more purchase options

$250 at Lowe's

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

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